Factors associated with obesity in preschool-age Chinese children and maternal type 2 diabetes in Taiwan and China

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Investigator: Jyu-Lin Chen, RN, PhD, FAAN

Location(s): China

Description

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated childhood obesity as a global epidemic and a major public health issue. Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile and below the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex

 The prevalence of childhood obesity is growing fast in many developing countries, including Taiwan and China. Given that obesity at preschool age is associated with young adulthood obesity and young adulthood obesity is associated with adverse cardio-metabolic psychosocial outcomes, preschool years are a critically important period for developing healthy lifestyles and preventing childhood obesity. As a global health nursing researcher, I work with National Defense Medical Center and Central South University in China to understand how familial and environmental factors contribute to the global obesity epidemic in the context of Taiwan and China.